Hispanic Heritage Month is observed each year from September 15 to October 15. With this year's theme, "Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation," the HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) encourages everyone to ensure that all voices are represented and welcomed to help build stronger communities and a stronger nation.
Visit the OMH Hispanic Heritage Month website to find:
Join OMH and Salud America! today, October 4, at 1:00 p.m. ET, for the Exploring the Diversity of the Latino Population Twitter chat. Use #SaludTues to join a discussion on Hispanic/Latino diversity, disparities, and health equity.
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October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while the rate of breast cancer diagnosis is lower for Black women than for white women, Black women have a breast cancer death rate of 26.8 per 100,000 compared to 18.8 per 100,000 for white women.
Early detection can save lives. The CDC National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program provide breast cancer screenings to low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women. The program is available through state and territorial health departments and American Indian or Alaska Native organizations. Find your state's, territory's, or Tribe's program.
Use the following resources to learn more about cancer prevention, treatment, and disparities:
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October is Health Literacy Month, a time when health and non-profit organizations, libraries, professional associations, government agencies, businesses, and other groups can work together to integrate and expand the mission of health literacy. Let's build a world where our collective efforts will lead to health equity and where all people can attain positive health outcomes.
The HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) has developed the National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy and the Health Literate Care Model. The Health Literate Care Model is an important tool that can help healthcare providers communicate clearly with their patients and confirm that patients understand what they are saying. Health literacy is also a central focus of Healthy People 2030, which includes the goal to "eliminate health disparities, achieve health equity, and attain health literacy to improve the health and well-being of all."
You can find a variety of health literacy resources at the CDC's Health Literacy webpage, and the National Library of Medicine (NLM)'s An Introduction to Health Literacy, including:
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October is National Medical Librarians Month. Medical librarians are one of your best partners in finding credible health information quickly and efficiently. They can help healthcare professionals and students avoid misinformation and improve health outcomes.
Visit the NLM website for health information databases and other resources for healthcare professionals, researchers, librarians, and the public.
The OMH Knowledge Center Library provides access to the nation’s largest repository of information dedicated to the health of racial and ethnic minority populations. The collection includes more than 70,000 documents, books, journal articles, reports, and media.
MEDLIB-ED, a learning portal from the Medical Library Association, offers online and in-person courses on Health Information Professionalism. Many courses are free and address topics such as trauma-informed services, racial bias, and community engagement.
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October 15 is National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, a day to help stop HIV stigma and address the disproportionate impact of HIV on Hispanic/Latino communities. According to the CDC, 29 percent of new HIV diagnoses in 2019 were among Hispanic/Latino people. Factors such as racism, HIV stigma, homophobia, immigration status, and language barriers can make it hard for Hispanic/Latino people to access the services and care they need.
Knowing your HIV status is one of the most important steps you can take for the treatment or prevention of HIV infection. Under the Affordable Care Act, HIV screening is covered by health insurance without a co-pay. If you are uninsured, some testing sites may offer free or reduced-cost tests.
Find testing locations near you with the CDC's Get Tested tool. You can also self-test at home. HIV self-tests can be purchased at pharmacies, online, or can be obtained for free or at reduced cost at your local health department or another organization near you.
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In observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, the OMH Knowledge Center is highlighting publications in the online library collection that focus on health disparities existing within the Hispanic/Latino community. Many of these resources are available for free.
To view this collection in the online catalog, click here.
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